Holidays
Traverse of the Jotunheimen

14 reviews

Ke Classic

Holidays

Traverse of the Jotunheimen

Norway

14 reviews

Available Departures: Jun, Jul, Aug

9 days from

US$2,685

without flights

View Dates & Prices

Walk & Trek

Guided Group

CHALLENGING

A walking holiday in the Jotunheimen national park, Norway's Land of the Giants

Trip Code: NOR

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays

4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays

10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Section:

Traverse of the Jotunheimen

Name: Traverse of the Jotunheimen
Brand: KE Adventure Travel
Rating: 5 (14 reviews)

Highlights

Climb Kyrkja and Galdhopiggen (2472m), the highest peak in Norway
The best mountain walking in Norway, including the iconic Besseggen Ridge scramble
Includes a beginner's glacier skills day on the fairy-tale blue ice of Svellnosbrean
Stay in cosy, well-equipped, mountain huts, with all meals included

At a Glance

Group Size 4 to 15
8 days trekking
Max altitude - 2472m
Join In Otta

Accommodation & Meals

All meals included
8 nights Mountain Hut / Refuge

Overview

This is an exciting and challenging walking holiday, trekking in the Jotunheimen region of Norway. Known in Norse mythology as the Land of the Giants, the Jotunheimen is the biggest and most impressive mountain region in Norway. After transferring from Oslo, our first walking day is an acknowledged classic; trekking along the world famous Besseggen Ridge, which divides two lakes, one blue, the other green. This is probably the best mountain walking route in Norway. After a short boat ride we then walk through the Urdadalen Valley to reach Spiterstulen, our base for the next 3 nights. We thenhead for the summit of Galdhopiggen (2469m), the highest mountain in Norway, before spending a day roped up, practising our glacier skills on the splendid Svellnosbrean Glacier. We will also have the option to climb the striking peak of Kyrkja (the Church) (2032m), which rises up above our hut at Leirvassbu. Trekking out towards the west we'll through some of the wildest Jotunheimen landscapes. Large boulders, long ago deposited by melting glaciers, lay dotted across the valley floor. Nordic folklore tells that these boulders are trolls, turned to stone in the sunlight. Finally we walk out towards the roadhead via the magnificent valley of Utladalen with its 200m waterfall. Following a network of good paths throughout and utilising the Norwegian's excellent mountain huts, this is the perfect holiday for those looking to trek amongst dramatic peaks, glaciers and enjoy the finest mountain walking in Norway.

Is this holiday for you?

This is a real mountain journey in Norway with significant amounts of ascent and descent on most days, particularly in the first few days of the holiday. The trails are predominantly good but there are sections of scree, bare rock, boulder fields and some easy scrambling, as well as patches of old snow and sections of glaciated terrain. The group will be roped-up whilst crossing glaciated ground, but there is nothing technically demanding about this holiday and previous experience of walking with crampons is not required. Typically, we will be walking for between 6 and 8 hours each day, with the occasional longer day of 9 or 10 hours. This trekking holiday is suitable for regular hillwalkers, looking for an excellent week of mountain walking. Throughout the holiday, you will carry your personal equipment. In practice, since sleeping bags and camping mats are not needed, so you should be able to keep the weight of your rucksack down to 10kgs. On the glacier day your crampons and ice axes are provided by the mountain hut, so minimal carrying of this equipment is required. These are not required on other days.

Why KE?

This adventure in the 'Land of the Giants', which includes the Besseggen Ridge and Galdhopiggen, the highest peak in Norway, is unique to KE and an absolute classic!

Itinerary

Download Trip Notes

Day 1

Meet at Otta Railway Station. A single timed transfer to Gjendesheim (995m) is provided.

Show Details

You should plan to arrive into Oslo, Gardermoen Airport by midday on this day. On arrival you will need to head to the airport train station and take the afternoon train to Otta, where you will be met by your Tour Leader. From Otta we transfer by minibus to Gjendesheim (995m) on the eastern edge of the Jotunheimen Mountains. We stay overnight at the Gjendesheim Hut.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

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Day 2

Trek the Besseggen Ridge Route, via Veslfjellet (1743m) to Memurubu (1008m).

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Today, we hike the Besseggen route, arguably Norway's most famous mountain walk, which follows a narrow ridge between the lakes of Bessvatn to the north and Gjende to the south. We can arrange to send our main luggage to Memurubu by boat to make the day's walk more enjoyable. During today's hike we will need to carry our waterproof clothing and a packed lunch. After breakfast at the hut, we start out in a northerly direction, climbing steeply on the path which leads to Glitterheim. After half an hour, however, we turn off towards Besseggen and begin a long climb to the broad, open top of Veslfjellet (1743m). Descending now, the ridge narrows and we walk alongside the blue water of Bessvatn to our right, whilst the green water (rich in glacial sediment) of Gjende lie some 400 metres below us to our left. The descent of Besseggen Ridge is a continuous scramble and will take about 40 minutes but the scrambe is relatively easy, on big steps. The ridge is reasonably wide so you are rarely near to the edge, which means that it should not feel overly exposed and is achievable for most confident walkers. The views as you descend from the ridge are spectacular and remain so for the whole day, as you are looking around from a lofty vantage point. We pass a small lake on a high plateau and then descend to our overnight stop at the lodge at Memurubu (1008m).

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1120 M

Descent

1080 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

15 KM

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Day 3

Boat journey along Gjende Lake to Gjenebu. Trek to Spiterstulen, via the Urdadalen Valley.

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This trek through the beautiful and remote valley of Utladalen is perhaps one of the longest days of the trip, we will be covering a long distance and whilst carrying all our luggage. In the morning we have a short 20mins boat ride along the beautiful Gjende Lake to Gjendebu. We then trek to Spiterstulen via the Utladalen Valley. We start at approx 1000m and walk along the Storadalen valley by the side of the river up a small tarn and then the Langvatnet Lake at around 1400m. We then fork off northwards up to the pass at Urdadalsbandet at 1663m between the peaks and glaciers of Visbretinden, Semelholstinden, Hellstugutinden and Memurubrean. We have spectacular views from here to the Svellnosbrean and Galhopiggen area, which we explore over the next few days. From the pass, we descend to the Visdalen valley for some level walking to the Spiterstulen Hut. *NOTE* if you would prefer to save your legs, it is possible to travel by bus from Gjendesheim to Lom, and then from Lom to Spiterstulen. Lom has a stave church, a museum and a great bakery. If you would prefer to take this option then your Tour Leader will be able to advise on bus timings. You will need to pay for the bus ticket directly and this cannot be booked in advance.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Descent

700 M

Time

9 - 10 hrs trekking

Distance

25 KM

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Day 4

Climb Galdhopiggen (2469m), the highest peak in Norway. Return to Spiterstulen.

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We will be spending 3 nights at the Spiterstulen Hut, which means that we can leave some items of our gear behind today, as we go off to climb Galdhopiggen (2469m) the highest peak in Norway. This peak rises up on the west side of the valley and after crossing a bridge across the Visa River, we initially ascend on a good, way-marked trail but the path becomes increasingly rocky under foot as we make our way up this giant, boulder-strewn mountain. Though we are never required to walk too near to the edge, some vertiginous drops make for breath-taking views. Up to about 1800 metres the trail is steep and then levels off as we come within sight of the subsidiary peak of Svellnosi. As we gain height, the views, especially to the south and south-west, become increasingly impressive. We pass the rocky tops of Svellnosi and then Keilhaus Topp (2355m) with large snow patches to cross in between. We have good views of the impressive Svellnos Glacier to the left and the Stygge Glacier to the right. At the summit, there is a stone-built hut where hot drinks and chocolate bars can be purchased. We return by the same route to our accommodation at Spiterstulen.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1400 M

Descent

1400 M

Time

8 - 9 hrs trekking

Distance

12 KM

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Day 5

A day exploring the Svellnosbrean Glacier / 'The Fairytale Ice'. Return to Spiterstulen.

Show Details

At the hut, our guide will issue us with harness, helmet, ice-axe (if required) and crampons and will make sure that everything is fitted correctly before we strap the items to our rucksacks. From the hut we have an easy walk southeast from the hut to the Svellnosbreen Glacier, which shouldn’t take more than 3 hours. After crossing the multiple streams in the valley on make-shift bridges, we follow a ridge of glacial moraine up to the base of the glacier, where we don our equipment and rope up. Here we trek through the blue ice with tall ice formations and deep crevasses. We rope up and explore this glacier on an upwards journey, following natural path-ways and depressions in the ice and taking big steps over the occasional chasm. We are likely to use our ice axe and crampons pull ourselves up short sections of slope but this is achievable for total novices and the guide is always on hand to assist. This is a fantastic day out but anyone feeling in need of a rest-day at the hut can certainly opt to do so.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

700 M

Descent

700 M

Time

7 hrs trekking

Distance

9 KM

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Day 6

Trek through The Valley of Visdalen to Leirvassbu (1400m). Optional climb of Kyrkja (2032m).

Show Details

After 2 long mountain days, today's easy hike through the spectacular valley of Visdalen will make a pleasant change. We climb very gradually to a high point at 1500m and enjoy great views of peaks and glaciers en route to our overnight stop at the lakeside mountain refuge at Leirvassbu (1400m). We are unlikely to see many other trekkers during the second part of our week, as the western ranges have a more remote aspect. The days are long in this part of the world in summer and after lunch at the lodge, those who are still feeling fresh will have the option to climb the striking peak of Kyrkja (the Church) (2032m), which rises up above Leirvassbu. The ascent of Kyrkja involves about 20 minutes of scrambling to the top and, though of a similar level of difficulty to Besseggen, it has a steeper feel. If this option is taken you will need to add 5.5km, 600m and 3 hours to the statistics for distance, ascent and trekking time listed below.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

500 M

Descent

100 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs trekking

Distance

16 KM

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Day 7

Trek downhill to Skogadasboen.

Show Details

Today's walk is generally downhill all the way to Skogadalsboen, a very pleasant hut which is situated amongst the Jotunheimen's wildest peaks. The walk starts out beside a string of lakes and follows the refuge access road, before turning off on a marked trail through the Gravdalen Valley. Underfoot conditions will include dirt road, rocky trail and extensive snow patches.The surrounding peaks and valleys become increasingly green as we head towards the coast.The last part of today's walk is through pretty birch woodland.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

300 M

Descent

900 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

20 KM

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Day 8

Trek through the Utadalen Valley to Avdalen. Optional walk above the Avdal Waterfall.

Show Details

Our final, beautiful day's trek takes us southwards from the hut, climbing to a high point at around 1200m below Mount Friken (1503m). On this first part of the walk, there are superb views of some of Norway's most spectacular peaks, including those of the Hurrungane Mountains. We then begin a gradual descent into the stunning valley of Utladalen, passing mountain farms and summer cabins, and we get to see Vettisfossen, Norway's highest waterfall, with a vertical drop of 275m. On reaching the valley floor, save some energy for the 30 min climb up to the Avdalen refuge, above the Avdal waterfall.

Accommodation

Mountain Hut / Refuge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

920 M

Descent

1340 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

17 KM

Hide Details

Day 9

Departure day. Walk to road head. Bus back to Oslo.

Show Details

We have an early breakfast at the refuge and then make the 1-hour walk (200m descent) out to the road, where we meet the bus which will take us back to the bus depo in Oslo. From the bus depot in Oslo, you will need to take the express shuttle train out to Gardermoen Airport. The train operates every 10 minutes and the journey takes 20 minutes. You should arrive at Oslo Gardermoen Airport in the mid afternoon.

Meals

Ascent

30 M

Descent

300 M

Time

1 hour trekking

Distance

3 KM

Hide Details

Download Trip Notes

The Route

Point

Peaks

Direction

Trek

Transfer

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

Holiday

General

Equipment

What's Included

A professional and qualified tour leader/mountain guide
Private transfer from Otta to Gjendesheim on arrival
Transfer to Oslo city bus depo on departure
8 nights mountain refuge accommodation
Meals as per the Meal Plan
All specialist glacier equipment including ropes harnesses and crampons

What's not Included

Travel insurance
Train from Oslo airport to Otta on arrival
Train from Oslo city bus depo to Oslo airport on departure
Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

The group will meet at Otta Railway Station. A single timed transfer from the station to the Gjendesheim Hut will be provided.

Contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

To get to Otta from Oslo Gardermoen Airport you can take a train departing at 1429 from the airport railway station (Oslo Lufthaven), which is just a 5 minute walk from Arrivals. Train tickets must be bought in advance from the Norwegian railway website (www.vy.no), which is available in English. You only need to buy a one-way ticket. The cost should be around 300-500 NOK (approx £35), depending on when you book your ticket. Tickets only go on sale 3 - 4 months prior to travel. Once you have booked your ticket you only need the booking code/confirmation number to board the train. The train goes in the direction of Trondheim. Otta is about half way between Oslo Gardermoen Airport and Trondheim and the journey takes just over 3hrs.

If you are taking the train from downtown Oslo rather that the airport, the train leaves approx 40 mins earlier than the airport train.

On the last day of the holiday, the group will catch the 0930 bus from Ovre Ardal to Oslo, which arrives in Oslo downtown at 1455. From here, you will need to take the 20min express train to Oslo, Gardermoen Airport. These tickets do not need to be booked in advance. The trains operate every 10mins so you will be able to be at Oslo airport at around 1530. The cost of the train is around 170 NOK.

Meal Plan

All meals are provided from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 9.

Food & Water

Water from the taps may not be drinkable in all locations on this trip - please check with your guide. We recommend taking water purification tablets and a reusable bottle with a filter such as Water-to-Go, which can both be used to help make safe other water sources. Please note that we do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

Breakfasts are buffet style. They have an array of different foods including eggs, bread, cheeses, meat selection, fruit etc. At breakfast you will make up your packed lunch from the buffet. Lunch bags or paper to wrap sandwiches in are provided for the packed lunches, though we recommend bringing your own reusable lunch bag or container. Evening meals are also provided at our accommodation. These are 3-course dinners. Usually starting with a soup and then a big health meal course followed by dessert. Beer and wine is available at each of the refuges - at considerable cost. Beer is typically £6 for a small bottle.

Accommodation

We spend 8 nights in mountain refuges. Some operated by the Norwegian Tourist Board (DNT) and some privately run.

The Norwegians know how to do mountain refuges; these are certainly not basic establishments. They are fully staffed and serviced mountain lodges, providing dormitory accommodation, restaurant facilities, bar, lounge, drying rooms and showers.

The dormitories are usually 4 berth, however it is possible that we will have to use 8 bed rooms at busy times. There are usually separate female and male dormitories; however, we cannot always guarantee this. Bedding is provided, but you should carry a cotton or silk sheet sleeping bag. Single accommodation is not available.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader/mountain guide.

Altitude

The altitudes on this holiday are not extreme and the maximum altitude attained is no more than the equivalent of a pressurised cabin on an international flight. You may ‘feel’ the altitude the first time you trek above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels while trekking above 2000 metres.

Spending Money

£100 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc) should be sufficient to cover miscellaneous expenses, including bar bills and snack items, chocolate bars etc. This will also allow you to pay reasonable tips to the local guide. Credit/debit cards (VISA and Mastercard) are now the preferred form of payment at all Norwegian huts. If you prefer to travel with cash we recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of local currency (Norwegian Kroner) as there will not be any opportunity to change money once we leave Oslo Airport. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect).

Guidance on Tipping

Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your leader and local team. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should be dependent on good service. We advise you to tip as a group.

Baggage Allowance

Since you will be carrying all your personal equipment for all but 3 days of the trek, you should make every effort to keep the weight of your gear to a minimum. There are drying rooms at all of the mountain refuges, with a sink for hand-washing clothes when necessary. We recommend that you have a trial walk with your pack. With careful planning (and considering that you will not have to carry a sleeping bag or a camping mattress) it should be possible to keep the weight of your equipment down to between 8 and 10 kgs. We suggest that you also take a small bag/dry bag into which you can decant additional items you do not need on the the Besseggen Ridge walk (Day 2), this bag will be sent to the Memurubu Refuge by boat meaning that you can walk with a lighter pack. For the two days walking from the Spiterstulen Hut you can leave excess equipment at the hut allowing you to again carry a relatively empty pack.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Passport & Visas

Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Health & Vaccinations

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Currency

The unit of currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone.

Preparing for your Holiday

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 8 to 9 hours for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training, and we would suggest that you try to fit in a number of long weekend walks before you depart. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina.

Climate

Despite its northerly location, the climate of central Norway is moderated by the Gulf Stream and is surprisingly mild. From June to early September, we can expect daytime temperatures of between 10°C / 50°F and 20°C / 68°F, depending on the altitude. At this season, night-time temperatures will fall to 5°C / 41°F at our highest overnight refuges. Sunny weather can be expected. However, the proximity of Norway's long Atlantic coastline means that the weather is unpredictable and you need to be prepared for some rain. Daylight hours are long, especially in July, when the summer sun is never far below the horizon.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

Books

Walking in Norway. Connie Roos.
Cicerone Press: 20 walking and trekking routes in the main mountain areas. The book has detailed route descriptions, and fact panels provide information on level of difficulty, base, maps etc.Summary tables, maps and route profiles illustrate the routes.
Norway. Lonely Planet.

Maps

Turkart Topographic Hiking Maps 1:50,000. Ugland IT Group (previously Statens Kartverk)

Maps at a good scale for walkers. Contours at 20m intervals. Shows footpaths, mountain huts etc. The maps have a UTM grid and margin ticks giving latitude and longitude. The map legend includes English. Additional tourist information is given on the reverse. To follow the route you will need two sheets: 2503 Jotunheimen Aust and 2505 Jotunheimen Vest

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Equipment List

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

On this trip you will be carrying everything you need. Considering that you do not need to carry either a sleeping bag or a camping mattress, it should be possible to keep the weight of your pack to around 10kg.

As this holiday involves a long transfer to get to the start, we would advise bringing crucial items, such as boots and waterproofs, on to the plane as hand-luggage.

You must bring the following items:

Rucksack approx 40 - 50 litres capacity
Walking/hiking boots (which are comfortable, waterproof, warm and sufficiently rigid to take a strap-on walking crampon on the glacier day)
Trekking poles (x2)
Gaiters
Trainers / sandals to wear in the huts
Socks
Walking socks (2 or 3 pairs)
Spare laces
Trekking trousers
Lightweight waterproof overtrousers
Underwear
Shorts
Thermal baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
Baselayer - thermal leggings
T-shirts and/or casual shirts
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Warm hat
Sunglasses
Lightweight thermal gloves
Warmer gloves or mittens
Washbag and toiletries
Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea.
Water bottles 1 litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
Water purification tablets

Antibacterial hand wash
Small towel
Sheet sleeping bag
Sun protection (including for lips)
Tupperware box (for packed lunches)

The following items are optional:

Swimwear
Dry bag (see Baggage Allowance section)
Earplugs (Especially if you are not the one snoring)
Head torch
Camera
Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Pen-knife (must be packed in hold baggage during flights)
Small thermos flask (0.5 litre) – can be filled with hot drinks at the huts

Mountaineering Equipment (provided locally – see notes)

Mountaineering harness
Ice-axe (if required by the conditions)
Crampons

Notes:

Appropriate mountaineering equipment including harness, crampons and ice-axe (if required), will be provided at the Spiterstulen Refuge to be used on Day 5 when on the Svellnosbrean Glacier. The crampons will fit to any hiking boot, a heel grove is not required.
Please note: As you will not be returning to the start point after the trek, you will need to be able to get all of the above items into your backpack.
Every hut has a drying room and sink for hand-washing items, so you may want to bring a small tub of washing powder. At a minimum, you will need one set of walking clothes and a separate set of clothes for the hut.

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.

Reviews

5 out of 5 from 14 reviews

Fantastic trip! ★★★★★

An absolutely fantastic trip! Despite much of the 8 days being poor weather, our group had a great time. Our guide, Lerke, was very resourceful and managed to juggle our itinerary so that we were able to summit Galdhopiggen. Definitely a highlight! We did see some fantastic scenery and came home with a real sense of accomplishment of our efforts to make our way through the rocky terrain, wet trails and muddy bogs to the next hut. Lerke was a great motivator and offered lots of much neede d encouragement to ensure we were successful. I would highly recommend this trip!

By Sherry from Ottawa Canada | 04 September 2024

Inspiring and stunning arctic landscapes ★★★★★

Of all of the trekking I've done, this trip was the most outstanding and inspiring. The scenery was the most diverse and fascinating I've ever seen. The guides were very skilled but also full of humour and friendship. The group really bonded and every day was a different. The huts were extremely comfortable and the food wonderful

By John from Dundee | 08 September 2023

Great trip ★★★★★

An extremely beautiful, wild part of Norway. The trip was a good challenge and based on a number of previous KE trips, deserves the 8 rating. A big factor in the trek was the weather. You need to prepare for rain..at times heavy...but never a huge problem as long as you have quick access to quality rain gear. Slippery rocks and mud can come along with rain and so poles and boots are also recommended. The treks are different each day and they are all really unforgettable. Beautiful lakes, mountai ns, waterfalls, etc. reminded me of a cross between Switzerland, Iceland, and Alaska. The huts are really nice...some of the best I have ever stayed in. Free showers (bring towel), charging outlets, decent wifi and coverage in most areas. A huge factor is that each hut had really good drying rooms so you could rinse out your gear at the end of each day and it would be clean and dry by morning. Food was better than average but as in any remote area you may not get all that you are used to at home. Beers are expensive (as reported on other reviews) but considering the remoteness and cost of stocking the huts, not unreasonable. Gear musts (in my opinion): Boots (for crampon day) High quality rain gear, dry bags and pack cover Poles Microspikes for snow climbing Flip flops for huts Ear plugs Towel Overall, very happy with trip. Another winner from KE!

By Michael from Cary | 26 August 2023

A great week despite the worst weather in 50 years! ★★★★★

There are three highlights on the trip: The Besseggen Ridge, climbing Galdhopiggen and the Svellnosbrean glacier. The weather for the ridge was almost perfect but then we were hit by storm Hans that brought the worst rainfall for 50 years. Our leaders managed to organise an alternative route to the Spiterstulen hut so we didn't have to walk for hours in the rain. Galdhopggen was obviously off the menu but we did get onto the glacier and had chance to explore the canvases. NOTE: The trip not es specify crampon compatible boots for a reason (ie they are needed for the glacier!) The walk to Leirvassbu was extremely wet with swollen river crossings and with low cloud it was agreed that the ascent of Kyrkja would be pointless (and its quite a tiring day even without the climb). We suggested it may be worth getting up early the following day to climb Kyrkja before breakfast. Our guide agreed and we were treated to a fantastic view from the top as the sun rose and back just in time for breakfast. The last two huts on the trek are more remote and very homely with wonderful food, the last in particular is amazing, a 16th century farm perched on the side of a steep hill that has been wonderfully restored. Thanks to our leader Jonus and Mathilde who did a wonderful job in the most difficult conditions. Their knowledge of the area and its flora and fauna was incredible.

By William from Darwen | 17 August 2023

Photos from the Traverse of the Jotunheimen

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By Russell from Skipton | 03 July 2023

Paradise

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I have submitted an earlier review commenting that this was a superb holiday, a super hard trek across the Jotunheimen National Park spread over 9 days with beautiful scenery and excellent accommodation. Everything was brilliant including the accommodation and food. A special mention for the the guides Jacob and Helmut were great friends and full of ideas and had a wealth of experience of the local terrain. One thing I think I would change is Day 6 - I personally would spread this over 2 days wi th a 20km walk on one day and the optional climb & scramble of Kyrkia on the following day. This would provide for a shorter day on Day 6 and a bit of a rest day on the extra day, also allowing a bit of flexibility if the weather was not so good. holiday.

By Malcolm from Stockport | 21 August 2022

Great , challenging hike

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Harder than expected due to all paths being awkward , rocky , boulder fields or snow fields . The guides were great and had plenty of local knowledge including flora and fauna. The vegetarian food was poor ( inedible) in one hut and totally absent in another. They promised to bring omelette after they’d served everyone’s dessert but didn’t. Advice to bring a large lunchbox would be good as you need to take lots of food as the day’s walk are very long and lots of energy is needed for the difficult terrain a/a ,steep ascents and difficult descents. Walking poles should be listed as essential as the river crossing are very difficult without them.

By Jennifer from Cheadle | 06 August 2022

A real adventure

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Definitely pack light for this trip, views are stunning and the mountain huts are luxurious. Beginning of the week is tough, but gets slightly easier. The guides Jakob and Bjorn are true professionals and very knowledgable. Pack snacks beforehand as they are not cheap! Norway done right!

By Joseph from Hatfield | 09 July 2019

The Besseggen Ridge,Gjende,Galdhopiggen,Svellnosbrean Glacier,Valley of Visdalen

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By John from Wigan | 19 July 2018

The Besseggen Ridge,Gjende,Galdhopiggen,Svellnosbrean Glacier,Valley of Visdalen

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Fantastic weeks trek in the Jotunheimen, admittedly we got lucky with the weather, virtually unbroken sunshine, so we saw Norway at its best. The first three days were definitely the hardest, but no less enjoyable. The traverse of the Bessegen ridge on the first days trekking was very busy, apparently Norways most popular walk. Bum sliding down the Galdhopiggen was a real highlight, also the optional climb up the exposed Kyrkja summit was exhilarating although I don't know if I would have b een brave enough to attempt it in bad weather. Overall we had a good group of 6 to walk with and we all got on well. The trip was superbly led by Jakob, a German guide who had a deep knowledge of his surroundings and a dry sense of humour, which made the week fly by. I would certainly be keen to return to Norway again in the future. One word of warning, if your not keen on Pork or Beef, it might be sensible to be veggie for a week. Absolutely marvellous

By Mark from Stowmarket | 28 August 2016

a fantastic week in the Jotunheimen

By Margaretta from WILMINGTON | 21 August 2016

Great Trekking in Norway

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

<p>I'm just back from the Traverse of the Jotunheim - a really wonderful trip hut-to-hut trek through stunning scenery. Our guide Jakob was excellent, generally happy for us to go at our own pace and a really friendly and helpful guy. The Bessegen ridge was a highlight and clearly the most popular walk in Norway with hundreds of people on it. The ascent of Galdhopiggen, Norway's highest peak, was also outstanding. The huts were great with superb food and good facilities. The trek king was hard with long days and heavy packs but we were rewarded with amazing mountain scenery, lots of soft snow and numerous waterfalls. Norway is very expensive so be prepared but we were also lucky with largely sunny weather. Highly recommended.</p>

By Colin from Edinburgh | 15 July 2016

A week in the Jotunheimen.

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By Andrew from Wigton | 12 June 2016

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Traverse of the Jotunheimen
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Departure Reference: NOR /05/25/
This trip departs the UK on Sat 16 Aug returning to the UK on Sun 24 Aug

This trip begins on Sat 16 Aug and ends on Sun 24 Aug
This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$425
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Land Only Information

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Otta. Oslo, Gardermoen Airport is the most convenient for Otta. On arrival you will need to head to the airport train station and take the afternoon train to Otta. A single timed transfer from Otta Station to Gjendesheim is included. The holiday ends in Oslo. From where you will need to take the express shuttle train back to Gardermoen Airport.

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The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

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Traverse of the Jotunheimen

Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

1 - 3 LEISURELY

4 - 6 MODERATE

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

10 - 12 TOUGH

Traverse of the Jotunheimen

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At a Glance

Accommodation & Meals

Overview

Is this holiday for you?

Why KE?

Itinerary

The Route

Essential Information

VACCINATIONS

Turkart Topographic Hiking Maps 1:50,000. Ugland IT Group (previously Statens Kartverk)

You must bring the following items:

The following items are optional:

Mountaineering Equipment (provided locally – see notes)

Notes:

Reviews

Traveller Reviews

Fantastic trip!

Inspiring and stunning arctic landscapes

Great trip

A great week despite the worst weather in 50 years!

Photos from the Traverse of the Jotunheimen

Amazing Amazing Amazing!!!

Paradise

Great , challenging hike

A real adventure

The Besseggen Ridge,Gjende,Galdhopiggen,Svellnosbrean Glacier,Valley of Visdalen

The Besseggen Ridge,Gjende,Galdhopiggen,Svellnosbrean Glacier,Valley of Visdalen

Great

Stunning mountain scenery and fantastic refuges

2nd trip even better than the 1st!

A challenging & fantastic week in Norway

Land of the trolls

traversing the Jotunheimen with Jakob cream crackered

a fantastic week in the Jotunheimen

Great Trekking in Norway

A week in the Jotunheimen.

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2025

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